Replaceable Modular Guides For Changing The Conveying Path Cross-section Patents (Class 198/836.4)
  • Patent number: 9422118
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transport unit comprising a base member, a transport mechanism and a positioning mechanism. The base member includes a bottom wall extending in a transport direction and a pair of side walls standing upright from two side portions, respectively, of the bottom wall. The transport mechanism is supported by the base member and transports an object to be transported. The positioning mechanism is supported by the base member, and positions the object relative to the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: HIRATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoichi Hirasawa
  • Patent number: 8550232
    Abstract: A system for lineally transporting logs, lugs therefore, and an associated method are provided. The system includes first and second tracks connected to a frame to provide continuous track surfaces. Lugs having support surfaces that correspond to the track surfaces are configured to be driven longitudinally along the tracks by a continuous conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Price Logpro LLC
    Inventors: Jim Krauss, Josh Krauss
  • Patent number: 8459444
    Abstract: The invention is an improvement to a conveying equipment that includes at least one curved corridor in which runs a queue of products moved by an endless mobile belt, said corridor being defined by: a first wall connected to the frame and having a first fixed curvature radius and a second wall mobile relative to said frame and having a second curvature radius that varies based on the products, said second mobile wall including: a guiding profile that may comprise several members, used as a friction surface and extending from an inlet up to an outlet of said curved corridor opposite said first fixed wall; a structure bearing said guiding profile, the structure including several segments connected to moving means, said segments being in abutment and distributed between the inlet and the outlet of the curved corridor and being movably housed in said guiding profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Sidel Participations
    Inventors: Brice Perreard, David Perrin, Zmaj Petrovic
  • Patent number: 8371433
    Abstract: Conveyor for transporting bottles or containers having varying diameters in lines to a bottle or container cleaning machine or packaging machine, and a method and apparatus for conveying bottles or containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Jendrichowski
  • Patent number: 8205740
    Abstract: A conveyor device for containers having a receiving rail for receiving a neck area of the containers, the containers being held by the receiving rail and are movable within this receiving rail. Guide mechanisms are provided with guide elements that are arranged beneath the receiving rail and guide the movement of the containers. The guide elements are movable in the longitudinal direction of the containers and the movements in the longitudinal direction of the containers of a plurality of different guide elements are mechanically linked to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Christoph Dragon, Markus Sigler, Andreas Seidl, Christian Paul
  • Patent number: 8033386
    Abstract: A skirtboard system for a conveyor belt or line comprising at least two skirtboards mutually opposed to one another. Each one of the skirtboards is positioned near the perimeter of the conveyor. Each one of the skirtboards comprises a support plate, a plurality of elements, each one of the elements mutually coupled with the support plate, a liner formed in interstices between the plurality of elements, a beveled nose formed along an edge of the skirtboard panel, the beveled nose complementary to the angle of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Richwood Industries
    Inventors: Jerry A. Roseberry, Blaine R. Stoll
  • Patent number: 8028823
    Abstract: A detachable stacked attachment for a modular conveyor belt. An attachment, for example, a bucket, comprises a group of components arranged side by side in an aligned stack of parallel layers. Interior components are sandwiched between outermost and end components. The number and widths of the components in the stack define the width of the resulting stack attachment. In this way, an attachment of selected width may be attached to a conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gilbert J. MacLachlan
  • Patent number: 7748522
    Abstract: A conveyor device for bottles in particular, having a frame and a replaceable guide for the material, the guide being lockable on the frame for the material to be conveyed. To make such a guide easier to handle, easier to store and easier to install, the guide is designed in multiple parts, a first guide part being provided with a central lock device and designed as a locking means for a second guide part which is equipped with a locking stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Glotzl Reiner
  • Patent number: 7721876
    Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for positioning side rails for an article handling conveyor extending in a conveying direction. The assembly includes a frame, two side rails movably mounted to the frame on opposite sides of the conveyor and extending along the conveying direction, each side rail including an input gear. A gear train extends between an actuator and the at least one input gear, whereby movement of the actuator in one direction or the other moves the side rails simultaneously toward or away from the each other via the gear train and the input gear. Multiple rail assemblies along a conveyor, across different sides of a conveyor, and/or along or across different conveyors can be employed. The multiple assemblies can be controlled by a common controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hartness, Mark W. Davidson
  • Publication number: 20100072033
    Abstract: A bulk material conveyor belt system comprises a belt, a track mounted device, and a support device. The track mounted device comprises a first track. The support device comprises a second track and a locking device. The second track is engage with the first track in a manner such that the support device limits relative movement between the track mounted device and the belt while the support device also allows the track mounted device to slide relative to the support device along a path defined by the first and second tracks. The locking device comprises a movable portion that is movably attached to the second track and that can selectively bias the first track in a direction other than along the path in a manner creating sufficient friction between the first and second tracks that renders the first and second tracks immovable relative to each.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: MARTIN ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: James L. Daly, Majid Jameel Jabber, Robert Todd Swinderman
  • Patent number: 7637368
    Abstract: A guide for a conveyor of articles includes a guide element elongated in a longitudinal direction. The guide element includes a substantially planar portion and first and second edges opposed to each other in a transversal direction, transversal to said longitudinal direction. A clamp associable with the guide element includes a back portion and two clamp appendixes opposed to each other in the transversal direction and is adapted to clamp the guide element along the first and second edges. The clamp is tightened to exert an action of traction on the appendixes of the clamp to urge them one towards the other in said first transversal direction, so as to tighten said clamp appendixes against said first and second edges of the guide element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Rexnord Marbett S.r.l.
    Inventor: Andrea Andreoli
  • Patent number: 7530453
    Abstract: A container transport system can have adjustable neck guides coupled along a container transport line and a neck guide positioning system operably coupled thereto. The neck guide positioning system can move the neck guides relative to the container transport line in correspondence with shapes of containers. The neck guides can extend continuously along the container transport line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Advanced Manufacturing Technology
    Inventor: Thomas M. Ingraham
  • Patent number: 7500552
    Abstract: A transporting device, for conveying goods over a conveying route, includes a transporting belt and at least one rope-like traction element for exerting a traction force upon the transporting belt. The transporting belt follows the traction element, at least along a transporting section of the conveying route, and is in communication there with the traction element through a coupling. The coupling has at least one spring element which, in the aforementioned transporting section, encompasses the traction element, with spring effect, for the creation of a force coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Kurt Switzeny
  • Publication number: 20080202896
    Abstract: A detachable stacked attachment for a modular conveyor belt. An attachment, for example, a bucket, comprises a group of components arranged side by side in an aligned stack of parallel layers. Interior components are sandwiched between outermost and end components. The number and widths of the components in the stack define the width of the resulting stack attachment. In this way, an attachment of selected width may be attached to a conveyor belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gilbert J. MacLachlan
  • Patent number: 7270229
    Abstract: A container feeding system is shown having an unscrambler having an unscrambler bowl providing a track or channel that is adjustable such that it can accommodate bottles of varying sizes. The system comprises an adjustable chute that is also adjustable and having a chute channel or track that is also adjustable to accommodate containers of varying sizes when the containers are conveyed from the unscrambling bowl, through the adjustable chute, and to a subsequent processing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: New England Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Perazzo, David P. Pletz, Michael A. Ruth
  • Patent number: 7073001
    Abstract: A method of synchronizing or initiating channel lock in a serial loop formed by an initializing transceiver and subject transceivers disclosed. Should a transceiver in the serial loop detect that its receiving serial channel is desynchronized, it sends an unlock signal to the next transceiver in the loop. The unlock signal guarantees that the next transceiver's receiving serial channel will be desynchronized. Only the initializing transceiver may initiate a channel lock sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Applied Micro Circuits Corporation
    Inventors: Nick Kucharewski, Yair Hadas
  • Publication number: 20040262130
    Abstract: An alternatively configurable roller conveyor module includes left and right frame members rotatably supporting rollers for rotation above roller axes extending along a roller plane. Each frame member includes upper and lower edges and includes roller-mounting apertures extending along a roller-plane axis situated between the upper and lower edges and corresponding to the intersection of the roller plane with the frame member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas M. Brown, Richard T. Evans, Kenneth E. Gluck, Douglas G. Miller, Eugene Stradley
  • Patent number: 6811022
    Abstract: A system for lineally transporting logs, lugs therefor, and an associated method are provided. The system includes first and second tracks that are machined and connected to a frame to provide continuous track surfaces. The first track, which is formed of portions that are keyed to the frame, defines a nonlinear cross section. Lugs having support surfaces that correspond to the track surfaces are configured to be driven longitudinally along the tracks, and the non-linear contour of the first track prevents the lugs from moving transversely. The track portions are machined to define track surfaces, and the first track portions are keyed to the frame so that the first track portions are substantially collinear and the first track surface is uniform and continuous in the longitudinal direction of the track, thereby reducing transverse motion of the log during transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Sawmill Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Seffens, Michael C. Ballard, David R. Shald, David C. Seffens, Jeffery T. Ramsey
  • Patent number: 6763935
    Abstract: A pivotable wall assembly for retaining material on a conveyor belt allows for the wall to be pivoted down for easy access to the inside surface of the wall. Numerous wall assemblies may be attached end to end in individually pivoted back. The easy access makes it quicker and safer to inspect the inside walls to make adjustments, and to remove or replace the liners, the walls and the conveyor idlers. The easy access reduces the man-hours of labor for inspections, adjustments and liner replacements reducing the cost of conveyor maintenance. The modular construction of the pivotable walls allows easy assembly and disassembly. The pivotable walls can be used with hoppers, or other material handling structures. The top and bottom walls have angled portions for engagement with each other to reduce noise, vibrations and dust resulting in less corrosion and wear on the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Nelson Williams Linings, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur C. Ostman
  • Patent number: 6736573
    Abstract: A selective conveying device is disclosed for conveying unstable articles, such as plastic bottles, having a neck portion with a neck ring thereon. Neck ring supported unstable articles are conveyed in single file along an article conveying path established by first and second guide units with the guide units having spaced connectors with neck ring engagable elements thereon spaced different distances from one another to receive the neck portions of unstable articles having different size neck portions. A first actuator, such as a pneumatic or mechanical actuator, causes relative movement between the guide units so that unstable articles are conveyed along the article conveying path on the neck ring engagable portions of the first guide unit when in a first operating position or are conveyed along the article conveying path on the neck ring engagable portions of the second guide unit when in a second operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Goldco Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Simkowski
  • Publication number: 20040031666
    Abstract: A pivotable wall assembly for retaining material on a conveyor belt allows for the wall to be pivoted down for easy access to the inside surface of the wall. Numerous wall assemblies may be attached end to end in individually pivoted back. The easy access makes it quicker and safer to inspect the inside walls to make adjustments, and to remove or replace the liners, the walls and the conveyor idlers. The easy access reduces the man-hours of labor for inspections, adjustments and liner replacements reducing the cost of conveyor maintenance. The modular construction of the pivotable walls allows easy assembly and disassembly. The pivotable walls can be used with hoppers, or other material handling structures. The top and bottom walls have angled portions for engagement with each other to reduce noise, vibrations and dust resulting in less corrosion and wear on the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Applicant: Nelson Williams Linings, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur C. Ostman
  • Patent number: 6575294
    Abstract: A conveyor belt skirt assembly adapted to be attached to a conveyor mechanism to retain conveyed material on a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt skirt assembly includes a mounting mechanism having first and second clamping members and a conveyor belt skirt adapted to be attached between the first and second clamping members. The conveyor belt skirt includes a relatively thin upper portion and a relatively thick lower portion. The upper portion of the skirt includes an offset wall forming a pocket adapted to receive the first clamping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Martin Engineering Company
    Inventors: R. Todd Swinderman, Gary D. Swearingen, Steven E. Brody
  • Publication number: 20030085104
    Abstract: An adjustable railing support system has a conveyor and a railing extending along each side of the conveyor. The conveyor is used to transport containers of various sizes and shapes in different runs. For each size and shape of container, the support posts must be adjusted and the actuators are connected to a programmable logic controller that is operable and connected to sequentially adjust the support posts relative to the conveyor until all of the support posts have been adjusted as required to transport container of one particular size and shape. The controller has a memory so that the precise location of the support posts for a particular product line can be stored. When switching from one known product line to another, the adjustments can be made automatically from the memory of the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventor: Witold W. Falkowski
  • Patent number: 6516938
    Abstract: An improved apparatus useful in feeding articles from a bulk supply through lanes confining articles into single file for metering and segregation from upstream articles. The apparatus includes a lane guide insert removably mounted on one of two opposed preferably fixed lane guides. The insert narrows or constricts the effective lane width through a selected length, and as a function of the diameter of the articles handled. The maximum width between the fixed lane guides of a lane is that which will permit passage of the smallest pre-determined diameter of articles to be handled without forming an “A” pattern orientation in the lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: R.A. Jones & Co. Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Paselsky, Matthew R. Lukes